Darcy Olsen, president and CEO of the Goldwater Institute, reports on the Goldwater Institute law suit against economic development giveaways in this Wall Street Journal op-ed. In addition to outlining the case currently before the Arizona Supreme Court, she notes that citizens are electing new city council members who oppose economic development subsidies.
People aren’t buying it, and there’s a revolt underway against
government subsidized megaprojects. In November, voters elected mayors
in Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe who promised to fight taxpayer subsidies.
In Phoenix, voters have elected three candidates to the city council
who oppose wooing developers with taxpayer money. And it is in Phoenix
where the biggest fight is taking place.
Opinion polls show these giveaways are unpopular.
Government-sponsored development isn’t popular. Public Opinion
Strategies polling found earlier this year that 80% of Phoenix
taxpayers oppose their city’s subsidies for CityNorth and agree that
the developer and the retailers who move into the new mall “should pay
their own way.” The subsidy is also attracting opposition outside of
Phoenix. Last week, Mayor W.J. Lane of neighboring Scottsdale won
support from his city council to file a friend-of-the-court brief in
support of our lawsuit.
Let’s hope city council challengers in NC pick up on the public outrage against these giveaways.
